Benzene in air--organic vapor monitors versus charcoal tubes

Passive badges have been utilized for many years throughout the industrial hygiene community for the sampling of organic vapors in air. Passive badges are, in many cases, preferred because of their simplicity and ease of use. Although they have received general acceptance by most practicing industrial hygiene professionals, many still are unconvinced that the devices can give results comparable to the traditional pump and tube technology. This evaluation encompassed many of the areas of concern that have been expressed in the past. A laboratory comparison was made of the 3M 3500 organic vapor monitor versus charcoal tubes in both short-term and full-shift scenarios. Benzene was chosen as the analyte of interest for most of the testing because of the general interest in benzene in both the chemical and refining industries. Back diffusion, humidity effects, concentration effects, storage stability, competing solvents, intermediate-duration spikes, short-duration spikes, and fluctuating concentrations were all investigated. The data confirm that the 3M 3500 passive badge gives precise and accurate results that are well within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) acceptability criteria of +/- 25% accuracy.